Riflery: 2011 Sewanhaka District Preview

Sewanhaka District rifle team coach Alan Zarchy says his sport is safer than football, or so he told an injured football player in one of his chemistry classes.

"The first thing that I teach them is about safety," Zarchy said. "We don't shoot at people or animals."

Zarchy also asserts that "kids never get hurt," in part because they have been using air rifles the past few years.

The rifle team consists of 15 students from the . There were 30 students who tried out to be on the team this year. The team's starters include one senior, four juniors and a sophomore. The team is composed of students from New Hyde Park, Carey, Sewanhaka and Floral Park high schools.

The team is coed; team members practice every day after school in the basement of New Hyde Park, where a shooting range with seven slots is located.

Winners of the Sawyer Division championship last year, the team was moved into the higher division this year. Movements between divisions depend on the team's record for the previous year and the retention of its top players, Zarchy said. Two years ago, five of his six starters graduated, so last year was a rebuilding year for the team.

Zarchy says the formula for a successful shooter is, "concentration, steadiness, a good eye, control and aim."

Division: Kaiser Division.

Coach: Alan Zarchy.

Key Players: Dan Sprat is a senior and the team's captain. He placed third in the Nassau championship meet last year. He also shot a perfect 100 on one sheet on Dec. 30, 2009.

Christina Licata, a junior, had an impressive average last year and this year. "She was coming up very strong toward the end of last year," Zarchy said.

Expectations: Of the teams Sewanhaka District will be competing against this year, Zarchy said its toughest competitor is Valley Stream. That team has won the county and state championship for the last three years. Two other teams that are the top in their division are Garden City and Massapequa.

Schedule:

• Dec. 1: Baldwin 
• Dec. 3: Massapequa
• Dec. 6: Chaminade
• Dec. 8: Coaches Tournament
• Dec. 15: Glen Cove
• Dec. 17: Bellmore - Merrick
• Dec. 21: Valley Stream
• Jan. 11: Garden City
• Jan. 13: Lynbrook
• Jan. 20: Freeport